May 21, 2012 was a kind of D-Day for the Catholic Church in defending itself against the Obama administration. On that day, 43 Catholic dioceses, archdioceses, organizations, universities, schools, and groups had filed 12 federal lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the Obama administration’s HHS mandate on contraception and abortion drugs. Even Notre Dame University, burned by honoring Barack Obama with an honorary degree in May 2009, participated.
One observer called it “legal Armageddon.”
Unfortunately, the vast majority of Americans don’t know that these lawsuits—a truly extraordinary, unprecedented action—have taken place. Aiding and abetting their ignorance were the major news networks, which flagrantly ignored the story. Their sin of omission was caught by Brent Bozell, head of the longtime media watchdog, the Media Research Center. Bozell stated:
You’d think the largest legal action in American history in defense of religious liberty would be a major news story. But ABC, CBS, and NBC don’t judge news events by their inherent importance as relates to the future of our freedoms. They deliver the news according to a simple formula: Does it, or doesn’t it, advance the re-election of Barack Obama?….
Bozell noted that ABC and NBC completely ignored this legal action in their evening newscasts, while “CBS Evening News” devoted just 19 seconds to this historic event. As Bozell says, “let’s be blunt: They spiked the news.” He called it the worst example of shameless bias by omission he has seen in his 25 years at the Media Research Center.
Indeed. We could come up with fancy theories as to why the media would ignore this dramatic headline, but the answer is simple: The mainstream media is liberal, wildly “pro-choice,” and scandalously biased in support of President Obama. Oh, and it also isn’t an enthusiastic admirer of Catholic moral doctrine. The media is ignoring this hugely significant story to help protect President Obama.
The media bias in this country is shameless, especially in its coverage of the Catholic Church. Yet again, journalism has been sacrificed at the altar of political ideology.
For Catholic Exchange dot com and Ave Maria Radio, I’m Paul Kengor.
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